Combination tool stand and case



March 18, 1952 L. H. DROHMAN COMBINATION TOOL STAND AND CASE 2SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Jan. 2, 1947 INVENTOR LAURENCE H. DROHMAN ATTORNEYMarch 13, 1952 H. DROHMAN. 2,589,234

COMBINATION TOOL STAND AND CASE Filed Jan. 2, 1947 2 Sl'iEET$--S!'!EET 2|7a |8a 2 I? 3O 22 fir: I6 25 30 f \\fj v 29 7 22a 26 29b l6a 3 0 23 29an l np1 7 IOa I9 INVENTOR LAURENCE HDROHMAN ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 18,1952 UNITED S TATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINATION TOL STAND AND CASELaurence H. Dmhman, Chicago, Ill. Application January 2, 1947, SerialNat 19,723

: C a ms- This invention relates to portable apparatus for transportingand displaying tools and more particularly it relates to a combination,drill case and stand.

It is very desirable that a drill caseibecompact yet function as a standwhile the drills are in use. iDrillcases heretofore proposed may berelatively compact when closed butdo not stand so that the drills areeasily accessible to the operator. Likewise, drill stands now availablewhich present the drills in a vertical, spaced position are not incompact unitary cases.

A principal object of this invention is to provied a unitary drill caseand stand of novel and improved construction which is compact whenclosed, and by simply opening the case, a row or rows of tools such asdrills carried therein are automatically moved into such position thateach tool becomes readily accessible and upon closing the case, each rowof tools is automatically aligned within the covers of the case.

It is also an object of this invention to provide atool case which canbe used not only to carry tools'but also as a bench stand. Anotherobject of the invention is to provide a casein which tools maybesecurely carried and stored so as-to present the tools at all times for-use-in-pre-arrangedorderand to provide a stand for the arranged tools.These and other objects will become apparent as the description of myinvention proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification,similar reference characters are used to designate correspondingelements in the various views'wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective of mycase and stand with the covers open andshowing the radially aligned panels or retainingmeans;

Figure 2 is a top view of the case and stand shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is-a side view of theclosedcase;

Figure 4 is a-top view with the caseclosed;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in -perspective showing the details ofthe hinge assembly;

Figure dis a fragmentary .view of the hinge-assembly in Figure 5 withparts removed;

Figure ,7 is atop .viewof 'thestopmeans shown enerally at '29 in Figures.1, :2 and :4 which is adapted to aligntheholders inzthe open case; and

Figures Band 9 show details of modifications of the-spacerelements-adapted toalignthe panels or holders.

Broadly my device, which will :-be described dapted an. holdi drills.comprises :a air :of hinged covers having one zor more drill holders or:panels mounted upon the cover hinge. Means carried .by' the coverelements and the hinge can be provided to automatically position, space,and secure the drill holder or panels radially between the covers withthe drills in a substantially vertical position .upon .opening the.case. The two halves of the case cooperate with a holder and togetherthey give rigidity to the open stand.

As the case is opened spacers, carried by the covers or the holder butfree to move with reference to .the other, swing the holders so thatthey are .in a fan-like position, :the spacing of which is determined bya stop key mounted on the .case hinge. When the case has been opened tothe fullest degree, or so that the angular portion of the f-ront-andbackhalves of the cases are back-to back, the drill holdersare in a fixedopen position, enabling the user easily to see and select any drill hewishes. Thus the device will stand in an upright vertical position withthe drill stand exposed and the case is out of the way.

In the drawings, l0 and Il designate the two halves of a clam shell casehinged along adjacent edges l2 and l2a and pivoted about the hinge pin13. Asportion of the edges l2 and IZa may be rolled to engage the pin 13and these hinge portions are designated as Illa and Ila. in the drawing.The periphery of the one half of the case 10 is provided with ledge orbead 44 so that the edge I5 of H may clamp withthe front cover I0 tokeep the case closed but adapted to be conveniently opened. The "twocover elements l0 and ll are designed and hinged so as to permit theiropening more than 180 degrees before the inclined edges l2 and l2a. abutas shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the edges 12 and I2a serving as stopsforthe rearward swing of the clam shell covers.

Depending upon the number of drills ortools to be housed within thecombination drill case and stand, one or more drill panels may bemounted with the case 19-4 I. 'The illustrated embodiment includes twopanels l6 and I6a. In

any event, each panel is pivotally mounted on its rearward edgeon thehinge pin 13. A-portion of the-rearward edgeof the panel may be rolledto engage the pin 13.

In the illustrated embodiment eachof the-drill panels l6 and lfia has aledge I? at its upper edge which is provided with an upper supportcomprising a series of drill sockets I8 of graduated diameter. The setsof holes or sockets 18 are formed in the metal of the exact sizeto receive readily the end of the tools intended tube placed therein. A lowersupport 19 is adapted 3 to retain the lower end of the drills within thesockets I8. Intermediate socket guide 20 having sockets 2I correspondingto those in the ledge I1, likewise may be disposed below the ledge I1and above the inclined support I9. If desired sockets I8 may be providedby drilling a bar stock and fixing it to the panel I6 or Ilia. Likewise,the intermediate support 20 can be consolidated with either the upper orlower supports or omitted entirely. Likewise the lower support I9 maycomprise a folded or crimped portion of the panel itself and may besubstantially parallel to the socket means I8.

Each of panels IB and Mia is mounted upon the common hinge pin I3 bymeans of the folded hinge elements 22 and 23 and 22a and 23a which areintegral with the panels I6 and Ifia. These hinge elements are spaced onthe panel so that they may be interchangeably mounted on the hinge rodor pin I3. Thus, panel I6 is provided with hinge elements 22 and 23 andpanel IBa includes complemental hinge elements 22a and 23a. Each panelincludes slits or Ways 24, 25 and 28 which are adapted to receive thealigning spacers and stop key designated generally by the numerals 21,28 and 29, respectively. The spacers and stop key include a tongue orequivalent means 30 adapted to engage each respective panel and coact todispose the panels radially between the covers I and II. The spacers 21and 28 are fixed by'upstanding portion 33 to edges I2a and I2,respectively, and stop key 29 is pivotally mounted on the hinge rod I3.

Referring to Figures and 6 the panels I1 and Ila are mounted on hingerod I 3. The spacer element 28 has one end 33 fixed to the cover IIalong the edge I2. The disc portion or arm 32 of the spacer 28 is in theplane of the slit or key way 26 in panel I6 and the tongue or stop 30engages the end of the slit 26 thereby serving to rotate the panel I6about the hinge rod I3 when the covers III and II are separated. Thecomplemental panel IBa is likewise mounted upon the hinge rod I3 and isprovided with a spacer or aligning means 21 which is a mirror image ofthe spacer 28. This spacing means 21 is fixed or carried by the rearcover II] on the edge I2a. The disc portion of the spacer 21 is in theplane of the slit 24 in the lower part of the panel I6a. As in the caseof the spacing element 28 a tongue or stop 30 on the spacing element 21engages thepanel or an extension thereof and rotates the panel about thehinge rod I3 when the covers are separated.

A stop element or key 29 is rotatably carried by the hinge rod I3 in theplane of the slots and 25a in the panels I6 and H511. Although theembodiment illustrates the quadrant stop or key 29 intermediate thealigning elements 21 and 28, it is contemplated that the stop means 29may be in either the upper or lower position. The extremities of the key29 have stops or tongues 30 which are adapted to engage the face of thepanels I6 and IGa for example, adjacent the end of the slots 25. Thisquadrant spacing device 30 limits the spacing of the panels I6 and Ilia,which are then spaced equidistant when the covers I0 and II are rotatedabout the hinge rod I3 and the spacers 21 and 28 tend to separate thepanels. It will be recognized that when more than two panels are mountedupon the same hinge rod, a spacing element will be necessary for eachpanel and a stop means corresponding to key 29 having stops 39 whichsubtend greater or esser angles than shown will be used.

If desired, one or more additional panels may be supported on the upperportion of the hinge rod I3 between the drills mounted in the sockets I8and I8a of the panels I6 and [6a. Thus the smallest graduated set ofdrills might be carried conveniently in such an auxiliary panel andincrease the capacity and usefulness of the combination case and stand.Such auxiliary panel would be spaced by a pair of elements correspondingto spacers 21 and 28.

Figure 6 illustrates the details of the spacer 28 in position andcorresponds to the spacer 28 in Figures 1 and 4. This spacer comprisesupstanding edge 33, arm 32 and stop or arm extension 30.

In Figure 7 the details of one embodiment of the stop means 29 areshown. The illustrated stop means includes a quadrant or' disc-likesection 29a pivoting means 291) and tongues or stops 30. It should beunderstood, however, that means equivalent to the tongues 39 such as theraised portions 36 of Figures 8 and 9, may be substituted so long asthey function to restrict the movement of the key 29 through the slot orslots on the panels.

Figures 8 and 9 are two views of another modification of the spacer 21and 28. These spacers comprise an arm 34, an upstanding edge 35 adaptedto be tack-welded or otherwise fixed to the inner edges I2'and I2a ofthe covers I0 and II, and also includes a second upturned portion 35which serves to engage the face of the panels adjacent the slots orextensions carried by the panels.

If desired the stock in the region of the hinge pin I3 can be ofsubstantial thickness or diameter and the functions of the spacers 2128and the key stop 29 can be performed by cut-away portions of the coverand panel hinge assembly. Thus complemental portions of adjacent hingeelements being suitably undercut will permit rotation relative to theother for a predetermined extent to swing the holders out between thecovers and to control the spacing of the holders in fixed relation.

In summary, the covers I0 and II are mounted on the hinge rod I3 andcarry spacer 21 on the front cover and spacer 28 on the rear cover fixedto edges I2a and I2. These spacers are adapted to pass through the slots24, and 25 in the panels I6 and Ifia until the tongues 30 engage theface of the panel adjacent the slot. The stop means 29 is rotatablymounted upon the hinge rod I3 and also is provided with tongues 30 whichengage the reverse side of the panels I6 and Mia and restrict themovement of the panels as they are urged apart by the spacers 21 and 28.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have provided acombined tool stand and case which is compact when closed, requiring theminimum amount of space for storing; it opens into an upright stand withthe drills all in a vertical position and with the holders so spacedthat all the drills are easily distinguishable and accessible to theuser; and due to the radial spacing there is no tendency for the openstand to fall. However, if the user wishes to select a'drill withoutsetting the case down, he can merely open the case and hold it by eitherthe front or back section of the case. A particular advantage is thatthe case cannot be opened without spreading the holders apart.

Although specific embodiments of my invention have been described, itshould be understood that this is by way of illustration only and thatthe invention is not limited thereto. From the above description,modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art and suchmodifications and alternatives are contemplated as coming within thescope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a combination tool stand and case, a first cover member comprisinga flat right quadrilateral wall with a peripheral flange extendinginwardly from the top, front, bottom and rear edges thereof, the flangeon the bottom edge extending perpendicular to the wall and the flange onthe rear edge extending obtusely to the wall, a second cover membercomprising a second flat right quadrilateral wall with a peripheralflange extending inwardly from the top, front, bottom and rear edgesthereof, the flange on the bottom edge extending perpendicular to thewall and the flange on the rear edge extending obtusely to the wall, theflanges extending inwardly from the bottom edges of said walls providinga footing for the stand and case, an axial hinge means including a hingerod joining adjacent edges of said obtusely extending flanges, drillsupport panel means hinged by one edge to the said hinge rod forrotation thereon between said cover members and adapted to be enclosedwholly within said cover members when said peripheral flanges are injuxtaposition, at least two open-ended slots in said support panel meansand spaced longitudinally of said hinge means, a first arcuate web meanshaving one end fixed to said first cover member and passing through afirst of said slots, a stop means on said arcuate web means remote fromsaid first cover member and adapted to engage a portion of said panelmeans adjacent said first slot, a second arcuate web means fixed to saidsecond cover member and passing through a second of said slots, and stopmeans on said second arcuate web means remote from said second covermember and adapted to engage a portion of said panel means adjacent saidsecond slot.

2. In a combination drill'stand and case, a pair of cover members eachcomprising a flat right trapezoidal wall with a peripheral flange meansextending inwardly therefrom, the flanges at the top, front, and bottomedges of said walls being perpendicular to the wall and the flange atthe rear edge of each said wall extending obtusely thereto, the flangesalong the bottom edges of said walls forming a base for said case, avertical hinge means including a hinge rod joining said obtuselyextending flanges on the rear edges of said walls, a pair of drillsupport panels hinged to said rod and adapted to be wholly enclosedwithin said cover members, vertically spaced open slots in each of saidsupport panels extending in planes perpendicular to the axis of saidhinge rod, at least one slot in each support panel being in alignment inthe same plane with a corresponding slot in the other panel, a floatingarcuate web means pivoted to said hinge rod and passing within saidaligned slots, a second arcuate web means fixed to the first of saidcover members and passing within another of said slots in a first ofsaid panels, a third arcuate web means fixed to the second of said covermembers and passing within another of said slots in a second of saidpanels, the length of said slots being greater than the radial extent ofthe respective arcuate web in said slots, a pair of angularly spacedstop means carried by said floating arcuate web adapted to engage theremote surfaces of the said drill support panels, and stop means carriedby each of said fixed arcuate web means adapted to engage the respectivepanel on a surface remote from the cover member to which thecorresponding arcuate web is fixed.

3. A combination drill case and stand comprising a pair of hinged covermembers, each of said cover members comprising a flat rightquadrilateral wall with peripheral flange means extending inwardlytherefrom, the flange extending from top, front, and bottom edges ofsaid walls being perpendicular to the said wall and the flange at therear edge of each said wall extending obtusely thereto, a hingerodjoining the obtusely extending flanges of said cover members, aplurality of drill support panels disposed between said cover members,said panels being pivotally mounted on said hinge rod and being adaptedto be rotated about an axis colinear with said hinge rod, verticallyspaced open slots in each of said support panels extending in planestransverse to the axis of said hinge rod, an additional slot .in eachsupport panel in alignment with a corresponding additional slot inanother support panel, spacer means fixed to each of said cover membersand adapted to become operative for rotating said support panels aboutsaid hinge rod after the cover members have been separated at theirfront flanges a predetermined angular distance, and angular stop meansfreely pivoted to said hinge rod and operating in said additionalaligned slots to oppose the rotation of said support panels toward therespective cover member by said spacer means, whereby upon separatingthe cover members, the support panels are disposed angularly from saidmembers and from each other in a rigid spaced array, thereby exposingthe drill support panels.

LAURENCE H. DROHMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 374,589 Davis Dec. 13, 1887730,493 Van Valkenburg June 9, 1903 906,153 Von Ohlen Dec. 8, 19081,018,729 Sine Feb. 27, 1912 1,622,818 Wismer et a1 Mar. 29, 19272,269,637 Palkosnik Jan. 13, 1942 2,305,021 Meier Dec. 15, 1942 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 154,997 Great Britain Dec. 6. 1920

